Dear Rebecca, Winter Is Here

This beautiful picture book begins as Rebecca's grandmother sits down to write Rebecca a letter about the changes she sees around her as Winter arrives. Grandmother writes an interesting tale about the Solstices and explains how Winter actually began at Midsummer and how the light actually begins its journey back to fullness in the depths of Winter. The writing is lyrical and lovely and the illustrations are colorful and lively and filled with details of the natural world. It is a loving, poetical tale rather than a scientific approach to the Soltices, yet it is informative as well as engaging. Grandmother describes the various wildlife around her home as they experience winter, while tying it in to Rebecca's own experiences. Gradually, page by page, just like the light returning, Grandmother ushers spring back in. This is a gentle, subtle picture book that will get children thinking.

This book is about the Summer Solstice being the beginning of "winter" and the Winter Solstice being the turning point for longer days and eventually summer. It is a scicence picture book and I recommended it for students in the 2nd and 3rd grades.

I found this beautifully illustrated book to be a gentle reminder of the circular nature of our changing seasons. It is quite useful as a classroom resource for tying letter writing to science. Even first grade readers were appreciative of the of the text when read aloud.

THIS BOOK IS ABOUT A GRANDMOTHER WHO WRITES HER GRANDAUGHTER ABOUT HOW SHE THINKS RIGHT AFTER JUNE,20,1999 IS THE WINTER SOLTICE THIS BOOK IS EXCITING AND NEAT CHECK IT OUT